STAR-SPANGLED REVUE {BOB HOPE} (TV)

Summary

Bob Hope's second variety special features Frank Sinatra in his television debut. The show opens with Hope joking about being called back by Frigidaire to do a second special, about the fan mail he received after his first special and about celebrities appearing in commercials for television. Sinatra sings "Come Rain or Come Shine" and swaps insults and makes jokes about money with Hope. Hope then stars in a sketch about dining at the automat where he encounters two women (one played by Sylvia Miles) talking about their friend's new baby, Arnold Stang as an off-key aspiring singer, David Burns as an alarmist about the dangers of eating apple pie, and a coat thief. Jack Russell sings "Suzette" about a pretty French grape presser whose story is told in dance by ballerina Janet Reed and choreographer Michael Kidd with the Ballet Company. In a comedy sketch Beatrice Lillie plays an insulting, highly critical visitor backstage in a star's dressing room. Peggy Lee sings "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" and "It's So Nice to Have a Man Around the House" and appears in a sketch with Bob Hope in which their courtship is interrupted by her former beaux. Beatrice Lillie returns to sings the Rodgers and Hart sendup of jazz numbers, "Rhythm." Next, Hope and Sinatra portray baseball players in the dugout who, while watching the game, discuss mascara, makeup, and their appearance on television. The dancing team of Condos and Brandow performs a tap routine and Hope joins them in a tap dance to "How High the Moon." Hope uses the name of the show's sponsor to spoof his road movies in the sketch "The Road to Frigidaire" in which Hope and Sinatra (as Bing Crosby) paddle to the Isle of Papaya in search of Princess Lamour (Beatrice Lillie). Milton Berle makes a brief appearance at the end of the sketch. Hope concludes with a few topical jokes and thanks his guests as they each come on stage to say goodbye. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: May 27, 1950 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:29:07
• COLOR/B&W: B&W
• CATALOG ID: T86:1315
• GENRE: Specials; Variety
• SUBJECT HEADING: Ballet; Comedy/Variety; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1950
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Frigidaire Electric Ranges
  • TV - Frigidaire Refrigerators

CREDITS

• Max Liebman … Producer, Director
• Leo Morgan … Production (Misc.), Production Coordinator
• Hal Keith … Director, Television Director
• Clark Jones … Director, Commercials
• Larry Marks … Writer, Sketches
• Al Schwartz … Writer, Sketches
• Mort Lachman … Writer, Sketches
• Si Rose … Writer, Sketches
• Larry Gelbart … Writer, Sketches
• Marvin Fisher … Writer, Sketches
• Norm Sullivan … Writer, Sketches
• Irvin Graham … Composer, Music and lyrics by
• Trude Rittman … Composer, Music and lyrics by
• Charles Sanford … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
• Michael Kidd … Choreographer
• Bob Hope … Host, Talent, Frigidaire products
• Frank Sinatra … Guest
• Beatrice Lillie … Guest
• Peggy Lee … Guest
• Milton Berle … Guest
• Jack Russell … Singer
• Michael Kidd … Dancer
• Janet Reed … Dancer
• Steve Condos … Dancer
• Jerry Brandow … Dancer
• New York City Ballet … Dance Company
• David Burns
• Louise Kirtland
• Tom Avera
• Arnold Stang
• Sylvia Miles